@JFredT

Curious about C18th & C19th Birmingham History, Steam Mills, Maps, Places, Buildings & People. Intolerant of intolerance and prejudice.

Joined January 2018
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#Ancestry are just finishing off scanning the last of the documents which will eventually make their way online. Amongst them are the rate books for #SuttonColdfield @LibraryofBham
Front cover of a volume. Words at the top read Borough of Sutton Coldfield 1906. An embossed central section with the words General District Rate Book in the centre. The words Vol. 2 at the bottom of the front cover.

ALT Front cover of a volume. Words at the top read Borough of Sutton Coldfield 1906. An embossed central section with the words General District Rate Book in the centre. The words Vol. 2 at the bottom of the front cover.

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Stunning architecture beautiful restored and saved - The Gothic on Great Hampton Street. Courtesy @Daniel_Sturley #LookUpBirmingham
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#SundayShowcase is Dis Poetry : selected poems & lyrics by Benjamin Zephaniah. This anthology brings together all the poems from Benjamin's three Bloodaxe collections along with previously unpublished work and lyrics. Ref – L 52.21 ZEP @LibraryofBham @bhmuk @BZephania
Front cover of a book with a photograph of Benjamin Zephaniah stood at a microphone stand. Beneath this are the words Benjamin Zephaniah and Dis Poetry : selected poems & lyrics.

ALT Front cover of a book with a photograph of Benjamin Zephaniah stood at a microphone stand. Beneath this are the words Benjamin Zephaniah and Dis Poetry : selected poems & lyrics.

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#CityOf1000Trades is this 1912 trade catalogue for the New Hudson Cycle Co. Ltd. The company was started in 1890 making safety bicycles and began to produce motorcycles in 1903. Ref – The New Hudson 3 – Speed Motorcycles @LibraryofBham
Front cover of a trade catalogue for the New Hudson 3 – Speed Motorcycle. The cover is divided into panels. The top panel is an illustration of a motor cyclist on the open road being watched by bystanders. Beneath this is another panel containing the words – The New Hudson Cycle Co. Ltd. Below this are three illustrative panels of a factory sketched from above. Either side are details of factory addresses.

ALT Front cover of a trade catalogue for the New Hudson 3 – Speed Motorcycle. The cover is divided into panels. The top panel is an illustration of a motor cyclist on the open road being watched by bystanders. Beneath this is another panel containing the words – The New Hudson Cycle Co. Ltd. Below this are three illustrative panels of a factory sketched from above. Either side are details of factory addresses.

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#PhotoFriday today is the Council House just shortly after its construction in 1879. Notice the statue of Sir Robert Peel which at the time was only the second statue erected in Birmingham in August 1855. Ref – Council House 81 @LibraryofBham @Brumpic
Birmingham Council House in the background of the photo - a grand Victorian civic building in a Renaissance Palace and Classical Revival style. A columned entrance with a balconied top and a dome. Pedestrians stood alongside the building in the bottom left of the photo. A statue dedicated to Sir Robert Peel in front of the building with a horse and cart to the left. Construction debris to the right and in front of the statue.

ALT Birmingham Council House in the background of the photo - a grand Victorian civic building in a Renaissance Palace and Classical Revival style. A columned entrance with a balconied top and a dome. Pedestrians stood alongside the building in the bottom left of the photo. A statue dedicated to Sir Robert Peel in front of the building with a horse and cart to the left. Construction debris to the right and in front of the statue.

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#BirminghamLibraries The Wish Stone : an old tale retold for modern times [1933] part of our Early and Fine Printing Collection. Containing 19 woodcuts and one of only 500 copies. Ref - Ridler p 2231 @LibraryofBham
The front cover of a book. A graphic illustration of a vortex - spirals in the background. The foreground is occupied by three figures stood upside down with their legs and arms parted. The vortex spirals cut through their bodies. A star between the two figures in the top half of the illustration and two larger stars on either side of the figure in the bottom half of the illustration.

ALT The front cover of a book. A graphic illustration of a vortex - spirals in the background. The foreground is occupied by three figures stood upside down with their legs and arms parted. The vortex spirals cut through their bodies. A star between the two figures in the top half of the illustration and two larger stars on either side of the figure in the bottom half of the illustration.

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#Birmingham Don’t forget to join Hugh J Thomson for his book talk - The Doctor Will See You Now this Saturday at 2 pm on Level 4. Hugh reflects on his time as a consultant surgeon. Just turn up on the day. @LibraryofBham @Pegasus_Books
A flyer for a book. Title is The Doctor Will See You Now. image of a stethoscope and surgical towel. The author’s name – Hugh J Thomson in the mid- bottom left of the flyer.

ALT A flyer for a book. Title is The Doctor Will See You Now. image of a stethoscope and surgical towel. The author’s name – Hugh J Thomson in the mid- bottom left of the flyer.

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#BirminghamHistory This week’s blog by Susan Darby explores collections here to uncover the story of her husband’s great-great-grandfather, Richard Prosser (1804–1854), a forgotten pioneer of Birmingham’s industrial heritage and beyond. theironroom.wordpress.com/20… @LibraryofBham
A book stood on a box – front cover facing on. Title of the book is Prosser The Engineer : A Forgotten Birmingham Genius. Painting of the bust of a male figure between the title and the author’s name. Office scene behind the book - two desks. The desk on the right has books on it. Shelving behind the desks. A window in the far left of the photo.

ALT A book stood on a box – front cover facing on. Title of the book is Prosser The Engineer : A Forgotten Birmingham Genius. Painting of the bust of a male figure between the title and the author’s name. Office scene behind the book - two desks. The desk on the right has books on it. Shelving behind the desks. A window in the far left of the photo.

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#MapOnATuesday is this outline of roads in the parish of Kings Norton drawn for the Board of Surveyors, 1875. The parish boundary and names of most roads are shown. Ref – MAP/273587 Bickley @LibraryofBham
A map of a series of interlinking streets and roads surrounded by thicker lines indicating the parish boundary.

ALT A map of a series of interlinking streets and roads surrounded by thicker lines indicating the parish boundary.

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#Birmingham an illustration of the Gem Street industrial school opened in 1850 to cater for orphans and neglected children. The school relocated to Harborne in 1902 and became known as the Birmingham Industrial School (Harborne). Ref – WK/B11/3405 @LibraryofBham
An illustration of a mid-Victorian multi storey building. A large chimney flume on the left exterior. A main entrance to the property with two wings to the building. A series of crosses on the outside of the construct. The property is separated from the road by an iron gate. Pedestrians walk by on the pavement. A church building to the right of the property.

ALT An illustration of a mid-Victorian multi storey building. A large chimney flume on the left exterior. A main entrance to the property with two wings to the building. A series of crosses on the outside of the construct. The property is separated from the road by an iron gate. Pedestrians walk by on the pavement. A church building to the right of the property.

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#BHM2026 Bad Friday by Brum born Norman Samuda Smith – the first British born black novelist to be published in the UK in 1982. Ref - L 51.3 SMI @LibraryofBham @bhmuk
Books on a metal shelf. The spines of books are visible along with their Dewey classifications. One of the books is full on to the camera showing its front cover. The title of the book Bad Friday, A Novel is in the top right of the cover. The author’s name - Norman Smith is beneath this in the bottom left. The cover is dominated by an pencil drawing of a male figure rendered in a Cubist geometric style. The figure has his right hand held aloft with his fingers grasping a ball. In the background is a much smaller female figure.

ALT Books on a metal shelf. The spines of books are visible along with their Dewey classifications. One of the books is full on to the camera showing its front cover. The title of the book Bad Friday, A Novel is in the top right of the cover. The author’s name - Norman Smith is beneath this in the bottom left. The cover is dominated by an pencil drawing of a male figure rendered in a Cubist geometric style. The figure has his right hand held aloft with his fingers grasping a ball. In the background is a much smaller female figure.

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John Townley retweeted
Alastair Hilton
@London_W4Oct 11
Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. One of my favourite places to moor. I took this the last time I was there and every day was like waking up in Victorian England. The atmosphere of this place was beyond compare. The Grand Union Canal is on the left and one of several pubs is on the right. People who worked on the canals worked hard and got thirsty. Quite a few people have come out of these pubs and fallen into the canal over the years. Some never climbed back out. Incredibly I’ve never fallen in. Yet.
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#SundayShowcase today is Vanley Burke’s By The Rivers of Birminam, Vanley’s work is a photographic document of the Caribbean diaspora in post war Britain, detailing the experience of Black people in the UK and their community identity. Ref: L 25.69 @LibraryofBham @bhmuk #BHM2026
Two copies of a book stand upright on a wooden table. A bookcase is behind the table. The front cover of the book shows a large crowd of people of African – Caribbean heritage. The title of the book is at the bottom of the front cover.

ALT Two copies of a book stand upright on a wooden table. A bookcase is behind the table. The front cover of the book shows a large crowd of people of African – Caribbean heritage. The title of the book is at the bottom of the front cover.

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Think 🤔…
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Britain likes to tell the story of the day it abolished slavery. Here is the part that gets left out: on the day the law took effect, almost nobody was actually freed. They were reclassified as "apprentices" and made to keep working for their former owners, unpaid, for another six years. The Slavery Abolition Act took effect on 1 August 1834. Children under six were freed. Everyone else over six became an apprentice bound to the same estate. Field workers owed forty-five hours a week, unpaid, for six years. Domestic workers owed four years. They could be flogged for refusing. Special magistrates were appointed to hear complaints and were frequently the planters' friends. Women could be punished on the treadmill. Meanwhile the owners received twenty million pounds in compensation — a sum so large that Britain borrowed it, and did not finish repaying the loan until 2015. So the arithmetic of British abolition, honestly stated: the enslavers were paid, and the enslaved were required to work another four to six years for nothing. Freedom was not given in 1834. It was scheduled, and then the people it was owed to forced it forward. savvypurchase.samcart.com/pr…
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#CityOf1000Trades this trade catalogue for Vaughtons Ltd. when based on Livery Street. Founded in 1819 by Philip Vaughton. Originally located in Little Hampton Street. In 1897 the firm was listed as a Button Maker and Medallist. Ref: Trade Cat Collection @LibraryofBham @Vaughtons
Front cover of a trade catalogue. Details relating to Vaughtons Ltd.’s Gothic Works, Livery Street and the company being established in 1819 at the top of the page. An image of the company’s trademark below this and the wares they produce. Ornate borders beneath to the side and including a floral footer.

ALT Front cover of a trade catalogue. Details relating to Vaughtons Ltd.’s Gothic Works, Livery Street and the company being established in 1819 at the top of the page. An image of the company’s trademark below this and the wares they produce. Ornate borders beneath to the side and including a floral footer.

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A look back to 2003 with Baskerville House under refurbishment and no Library of Birmingham. Grass in Centenary Square. Photo courtesy @Daniel_Sturley
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#PhotoFriday today is the Kyrle Hall, Sheep Street. Built in the late 19th century by Mr. J. Bowen to designs by Arts and Crafts architect, William Bidlake. Ref – WK/B11/3450 @LibraryofBham @Brumpic
A photo of a row of properties. A shop in the near foreground on the bottom right with people stood out outside. The largest property in the row is next - an impressive Arts and Crafts three storey building with a turret. A row of balcony windows below this and two bay windows beneath this. Two terraced houses at the end of the row.

ALT A photo of a row of properties. A shop in the near foreground on the bottom right with people stood out outside. The largest property in the row is next - an impressive Arts and Crafts three storey building with a turret. A row of balcony windows below this and two bay windows beneath this. Two terraced houses at the end of the row.

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Earlier today (8 Oct) the Tree of Life memorial returned, after some restoration, to be installed in its new home next to St Martin’s in the Bull Ring church. The bronze sculpture, which was first installed on Edgbaston Street, is a tribute to the 2,241 civilians who died in the Birmingham Blitz during World War II. Created by artist Lorenzo Quinn, following a campaign by Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association (BARRA) for a permanent memorial, was unveiled on 8 October 2005. Now, after being restored by Shropshire-based specialists Castle Foundry, it will be officially unveiled after BARRA’s annual memorial service, which takes place at St Martin’s on Saturday 10 October, at 11am – all are welcome to attend. For full story, see link in comments below
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#BhamWomen Harriet Martineau (1802 - 1876) buried in Key Hill Cemetery was an abolitionist. Her conviction forged by what she had witnessed during her stay in America @LibraryofBham @bhmuk #BHM2026
Pencil drawing of the bust of a female figure. Her hair has a central parting and is arranged in waves with a small bun at the crown. Her head is slanted towards the left. She is wearing a simple dress with a plain collar and a knot at the centre of the neck. The dress is very uncomplicated.

ALT Pencil drawing of the bust of a female figure. Her hair has a central parting and is arranged in waves with a small bun at the crown. Her head is slanted towards the left. She is wearing a simple dress with a plain collar and a knot at the centre of the neck. The dress is very uncomplicated.

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